City/town information
We are so happy to have you visiting a place that has been our home for over 25 years. You will find a vibrant town nestled in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you want an outdoor adventure or an eclectic downtown experience, it is here. You will find praised cuisine, live music, unique breweries, and galleries showing impressive arts and crafts.
I will share my favorites here in this guide, but you can certainly find more information on some of the local websites, "Explore Asheville" and "Romantic Asheville.
The restaurant scene is amazing but you will often need reservations as people come to Asheville just for the food. Again, I have listed some of my favorites, but there are so many great places, I will only be scratching the surface.
902 locals recommend
Asheville
We are so happy to have you visiting a place that has been our home for over 25 years. You will find a vibrant town nestled in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you want an outdoor adventure or an eclectic downtown experience, it is here. You will find praised cuisine, live music, unique breweries, and galleries showing impressive arts and crafts.
I will share my favorites here in this guide, but you can certainly find more information on some of the local websites, "Explore Asheville" and "Romantic Asheville.
The restaurant scene is amazing but you will often need reservations as people come to Asheville just for the food. Again, I have listed some of my favorites, but there are so many great places, I will only be scratching the surface.
A Great Place to Start
The Visitor Center has knowledgeable personnel, and tons of maps and brochures to help you navigate Asheville and surrounding areas.
31 locals recommend
Asheville Visitor Center
36 Montford AveThe Visitor Center has knowledgeable personnel, and tons of maps and brochures to help you navigate Asheville and surrounding areas.
Food scene
This has been a favorite since I first moved here. The Mexican-Carribean cuisine is the best I have had, and the fresh margaritas and mojitos are amazing. You can turn up the spice with their house made hot sauce!
170 locals recommend
Salsa's
6 Patton AveThis has been a favorite since I first moved here. The Mexican-Carribean cuisine is the best I have had, and the fresh margaritas and mojitos are amazing. You can turn up the spice with their house made hot sauce!
Casual dining for yummy seafood. Near but outside of downtown for easy parking.
From the 5 star ratings on Trip Advisor
"Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile
An oyster house every town should have
Seafood tower was exceptionally great. Great menu. Wanted to try lots of other things. We will be back for sure. Good cocktails. Good beer and wine list. And most importantly great oysters. Nice atmosphere and funky music."
57 locals recommend
Jettie Rae's Oyster House
143 Charlotte StCasual dining for yummy seafood. Near but outside of downtown for easy parking.
From the 5 star ratings on Trip Advisor
"Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile
An oyster house every town should have
Seafood tower was exceptionally great. Great menu. Wanted to try lots of other things. We will be back for sure. Good cocktails. Good beer and wine list. And most importantly great oysters. Nice atmosphere and funky music."
Great Italian! This restaurant is outside of downtown and does not take reservations. I think it is worth the wait, but there will almost always be one. You can get a drink from the bar and sit in an outside area while you wait.
From the 5 star Trip Advisor ratings:
"Family Dinner
This was our first time to Vinnie's. It was outstanding! Everything was delicious. Our family of 6 shared the following items: calamari, garlic knots, caesar salad, chicken parm, chicken piccata, shrimp linguine, and pan seared scallops with linguine. If you are in Asheville, stop at Vinnie's. You won't regret it."
91 locals recommend
Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian
641 Merrimon AveGreat Italian! This restaurant is outside of downtown and does not take reservations. I think it is worth the wait, but there will almost always be one. You can get a drink from the bar and sit in an outside area while you wait.
From the 5 star Trip Advisor ratings:
"Family Dinner
This was our first time to Vinnie's. It was outstanding! Everything was delicious. Our family of 6 shared the following items: calamari, garlic knots, caesar salad, chicken parm, chicken piccata, shrimp linguine, and pan seared scallops with linguine. If you are in Asheville, stop at Vinnie's. You won't regret it."
My favorite place for Spanish Tapas. Always unique and delicious.
You will need a reservation.
201 locals recommend
Zambra
85 W Walnut StMy favorite place for Spanish Tapas. Always unique and delicious.
You will need a reservation.
Love, love this restaurant....reinvented Mexican traditional dishes.
If you want a table at this one, you will likely need a reservation weeks in advance.
278 locals recommend
Limones Restaurant
15 Eagle StLove, love this restaurant....reinvented Mexican traditional dishes.
If you want a table at this one, you will likely need a reservation weeks in advance.
Delicious Spanish Tapas and has been written about in many culinary magazines. The food and wine are delicious, but pricey, and you will definitely need a reservation.
518 locals recommend
Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveDelicious Spanish Tapas and has been written about in many culinary magazines. The food and wine are delicious, but pricey, and you will definitely need a reservation.
Piazza is really close and has good pizza and pasta. Ample seating but also good for take out. The nearest grocery store is right across the street, so if you want something easy when you arrive, this is a good bet.
69 locals recommend
Piazza
4 Olde Eastwood Village BlvdPiazza is really close and has good pizza and pasta. Ample seating but also good for take out. The nearest grocery store is right across the street, so if you want something easy when you arrive, this is a good bet.
Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
19 Broadway StMy favorite for sushi and great service!
Grab some ribs here in the River Arts district. This area is called "The Foundy Street". You can enjoy some great shopping, crafts, and my favorite brewery all right here!
329 locals recommend
12 Bones Smokehouse RIVER
5 Foundy StGrab some ribs here in the River Arts district. This area is called "The Foundy Street". You can enjoy some great shopping, crafts, and my favorite brewery all right here!
Blue Dream Curry House
81 Patton AveGreat Curry and counter service.
Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington AveDelicious Indian buffet
Farm Burger Asheville
10 Patton AveGreat for a quick and hearty lunch downtown
Favorite Breakfasts
A favorite for breakfast, but lunch and dinner are great too. This is in West Asheville, so you may enjoy seeing this part of town also.
587 locals recommend
Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood RdA favorite for breakfast, but lunch and dinner are great too. This is in West Asheville, so you may enjoy seeing this part of town also.
Cat Head Biscuits with all the toppings. Will keep your belly full all day.
There are several locations and there will likely be a line if you don't get there early.
471 locals recommend
Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdCat Head Biscuits with all the toppings. Will keep your belly full all day.
There are several locations and there will likely be a line if you don't get there early.
Good "counter service" breakfast with freshly baked bread and good coffee. There are 2 locations, this one just outside of downtown but there is another downtown which is a little larger.
They have great sandwiches for lunch too!
111 locals recommend
City Bakery
88 Charlotte StGood "counter service" breakfast with freshly baked bread and good coffee. There are 2 locations, this one just outside of downtown but there is another downtown which is a little larger.
They have great sandwiches for lunch too!
Hole Doughnuts
168 Haywood RdThe. Best. Doughnuts.
Made to order!
High Five Coffee
190 Broadway StGood coffee and bagel sandwiches
Favorite Pizza
This place has been around forever for good reason. Awesome pizza, outside of downtown. I do think it is best eaten there, it is perfect right out of the oven.
36 locals recommend
828 Family Pizzeria
946 Merrimon AveThis place has been around forever for good reason. Awesome pizza, outside of downtown. I do think it is best eaten there, it is perfect right out of the oven.
Piazza is really close and has good pizza and pasta. Ample seating but also good for take out. The nearest grocery store is right across the street, so if you want something easy when you arrive, this is a good bet.
69 locals recommend
Piazza
4 Olde Eastwood Village BlvdPiazza is really close and has good pizza and pasta. Ample seating but also good for take out. The nearest grocery store is right across the street, so if you want something easy when you arrive, this is a good bet.
These pizzas are huge!!! Its like 2 pizzas in one so fun for a group. You can also get it by the slice. If you are downtown or on the South Slope, stop by for a slice. Its also great for take out, if you can fit it in the car! 28"!
21 locals recommend
PIE.ZAA Pizza
46 Millard AvenueThese pizzas are huge!!! Its like 2 pizzas in one so fun for a group. You can also get it by the slice. If you are downtown or on the South Slope, stop by for a slice. Its also great for take out, if you can fit it in the car! 28"!
Dessert
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareALL the chocolate!!
Rooftop Bars
Antidote
151 Coxe Ave1920's vibe with great cocktails and roof top
Great views from this roof top bar. Craft cocktails and small bites too!
Reservations recommended
109 locals recommend
The Montford Rooftop Bar
199 Haywood StGreat views from this roof top bar. Craft cocktails and small bites too!
Reservations recommended
Really cool rooftop bar and restaurant. The location is great with amazing views. In my opinion the food is good but not great.
98 locals recommend
Hemingway's Cuba Restaurant & Bar
15 Page AveReally cool rooftop bar and restaurant. The location is great with amazing views. In my opinion the food is good but not great.